The four seasons — we experience them all to the fullest in New England. Summer is fantastic for about a month, but it's brutal, and we start to get really tired of the 90 degree temperature and 85 percent humidity right around the brink of August. Beach days are fun, but we find ourselves longing for October weather when we realize we can't breathe the second we get into our baking-in-the-sun vehicles. Winter is, well...just plain awful, and what seems like the longest five months of our lives every single year. Spring is great and all, but what's so fun about mediocre temperatures, barren trees and rain? Let's face it, we all love fall more than we'd like to admit.
1. The Smell
There is something so homey, so comforting and cozy, about the smells of Autumn. Not only is the air naturally crisp with the smell of falling leaves, but let's not forget all the lovely scents that come with fall — apple, pumpkin spice, cinnamon. You know you love taking a trip to Yankee Candle come October, not to mention the smell of bonfires lingering in the air on a cool Saturday night. Sleeping with your windows open while the smell of the season drifts in? Nothing better.
2. The Leaves
If you don't live in New England, you're certainly missing out. There is nothing like the changing leaves in the fall time. There's no better way to spend a fall day than taking a long drive through the country admiring the orange and yellow colors, or taking a hike during a crisp day to see the beauty that nature has to offer us. Did I mention feeling like a giddy little kid when you step on a crunchy leaf?
3. Apple picking — apple everything
We all know this hobby never gets old despite your age. One of my favorite things to do in the fall is go to Roger's Orchard, our local Connecticut farm, and pick fresh apples right off the trees. After grabbing some delicious apples, I love going into the store and grabbing a freshly baked apple cider donut and pairing it with a hot cup of apple cider. And the apple scented candles? Find them everywhere inside my home.
4. Pumpkin everything
I myself am not a big fan of pumpkin spice flavors, but I do like the scent. Plus, I have to mention it here for all the people who live for pumpkin spice lattes. And even if we don't want to eat anything pumpkin flavored, we can at least go pumpkin picking (and carve them for Halloween, which leads me to my next point).
5. Halloween-themed everything
Who doesn't love Halloween?! Even if we're not kids anymore and can't go trick-or-treating, nothing makes you feel more nostalgic than driving around town and seeing all the creative Halloween decorations and orange lights. Did I mention all of the Halloween-themed movies airing on television, giving you a perfect excuse to laze around all day bundled up on the couch with your pumpkin spice latte?
6. The Nightmare Before Christmas
...need I say more?
7. Haunted hay rides
Last but not least, the one thing that will without a doubt make you feel like a kid again is bundling up in a cozy sweater and taking your friends or family on a haunted hay ride with you. The smell of a fall night and fresh hay perfectly paired with nearly crapping your pants as people dressed in costumes jump out and give you a heart attack — nothing better.
